The Whisky Trail: Speyside

From The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich to The Macallan, Speyside, Scotland, boasts to some of the country's best-known single malts. It's also a beautiful part of the United Kingdom and a trip all drinkers should make. Here are a few of our favorite spots to visit in the area:

GLEN GRANT, ROTHES, (44 01340 832 118):
A popular attraction in Speyside is the Glen Grant distillery and its attached Victorian gardens, which were recently refurbished. It's no wonder that about 10,000 people a year stop by. A ticket to both, plus a sample dram, costs £3.50 ($5.60).

GLENFIDDICH, DUFFTOWN, (44 01340 820 373):
Right in the heart of Dufftown is the Glenfiddich facility, dating back to 1886. It offers three tours, from the free Classic Tour to the three-hour Pioneers Tour (£75 per person, about $130), which includes filling your own bottle of cask-strength whisky to take home. Just next door is its sister distillery, The Balevenie, that's open to the public as well.

THE GLENLIVET, BALLINDALLOCH, (44 01340 821 720):
This nearly 200-year-old brand was awarded the first distilling license in Speyside. Its distillery underwent a £10 million expansion several years ago, adding six more stills, and there are free tours every day from April through late October. Check out the store, and the coffee shop if you're hungry.

THE MACALLAN, CRAIGELLACHIE, (44 01340 872 280):
The famed distillery (pictured above), with great views of the River Spey, is open five days a week (six from Easter through August) and gives two different tour options. The Experience Tour is an hour and 20 minutes and limited to only 10 people, and The Precious Tour is two hours and 15 minutes and features a tasting of a range of Scotches.

QUAICH BAR (44 08444 146 526) & THE WHISKY BAR (44 01340 881 446), CRAIGELLACHIE:
After a long day on the whisky trail, we suggest having a final drink at either the Quaich Bar in the historic Craigellachie Hotel or The Whisky Bar in The Highlander Inn. Both stock hundreds of bottlings and have amazing selections of truly rare spirits. Fortunately, they're also across the street from one another.

This story was originally published at The Whiskey Trail: Speyside. For more stories like this, subscribe to Liquor.com for the best in all things cocktails and spirits.